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Only about 53 examples of the XJR-15 were ever made. Photo by 190e30 via Reddit

The Jaguar XJR-15 still impresses today

A 6.0-liter V12, you say? Sign us up

February 24, 2017

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If you don’t remember the Jaguar XJR-15, don’t worry. Most people don’t. The car’s limited run of about 53 cars has made its availability scarce, with most examples still residing in the U.K. It’s no surprise one Reddit user was surprised by the car’s existence considering the XJ220 gets much of the limelight.

The history of the car is fascinating. Developed using technology from the XJR-9 and XJR-12 race cars, the XJR-15 is powered by a 6.0-liter V12 making 450 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque. Power’s sent to the rear wheels through a Tom Walkinshaw Racing-built five-speed manual transaxle.

Tiff Needell, while at "Top Gear" in the early 1990s, got to put one through its paces at Silverstone. The onboard footage is fabulous, and it sounds quite good, too. Considering at the time the car could hit 60 mph in under four seconds with a top speed of 215, this was a brutal machine.

Examples that have been up for sale in recent years have spiked in price -- figures are now cresting $500,000. The Jaguar XJR-15 might finally be coming into its own.